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by Ashley Jade
It doesn’t surprise me. Finding your mom dead on the kitchen floor when you’re eight, being abandoned by your dad for a new family, and finding out a boy you were friends with had a secret crush on you and killed himself the night he caught you hooking up with his older brother would make anyone skeptical about having a happily ever after.
However, that was all in the past.
Because she’s my best friend and I love her, I tell her the honest truth. “You’re creating your own drama.”
She looks insulted. “How do you figure that?”
“Because you’re focusing on everything that might go wrong instead of enjoying everything that is going right. You’re literally creating drama out of thin air.”
“Fuck.” She scrunches her face. “Dammit. You’re right.”
“I know.” I rest my head on her shoulder. “You deserve good things, Dylan. And even if that shoe does end up dropping at some point, we both know you and Jace will get through it.”
“I know.” She sighs. “God, I feel like an asshole now.” She squeezes my hand. “Thanks for talking me off the ledge.”
“It’s what best friends do.”
“Speaking of best friends, is there anything you want to tell me?”
Oh, crap.
“Like?”
Shifting in her seat, she gives me a pointed look. “How about the fact you’re dating Cole Covington?”
Relief flows through me. For a moment I thought Oakley told her about the Adderall.
“Oh. That?” I wave a hand. “Trust me, it’s nothing.”
“You’re dating the asshole who called you fat and publicly denied hooking up with you so he could stay with Casey’s bitch ass, and it’s nothing?”
Well, when she puts it that way.
“Sorry, let me rephrase—it’s not what you think. We’re not really dating. It’s fake.”
She looks even more confused. “Why in the world would you fake date Cole?”
I draw in a deep breath. “Because Cole said he could get any girl he wanted, but his teammate Cortland said he couldn’t. One thing led to another and Cole ended up agreeing to Cortland’s stupid bet to date me for six months.”
I leave out the part about taking my virginity because poor Dylan looks like she’s about to have a coronary.
“What the actual fuck—”
“I know it sounds bad.”
“No, bad is Cole hooking up with you but telling people he didn’t because he’s a superficial assmunch. This shit is fucked, Sawyer. He’s blatantly using you to win a dumb bet.”
“Technically, yes. But he told me about it.” I don’t mention that it was only after I confronted him with the truth. “He could have lied and kept me in the dark, but he didn’t. Besides, I’m using him too.”
She quirks an eyebrow. “Using him how?”
“If he wins the bet—which he will because I’m in on it—he has to donate ten-thousand dollars to my church.” I shrug. “It’s really nothing more than a business deal.”
She stares at me for a few moments before she speaks.
“You hit me with a best friend reality check a minute ago, and I feel it’s only right to return the favor.” Her forehead wrinkles. “This is a bad idea. I know you hate talking about it, and you’re just going to play it off like it wasn’t that serious—but I know how much you liked him, Sawyer.” Her hands frame my face. “I also know how much he hurt you. And I don’t care how much money he’s offering you to go along with it, you don’t owe him jack shit.”
“You’re right,” I tell her. “I did like Cole and he did hurt me, but that experience showed me the type of person he really is. Now that I know, I won’t be fooled again and what’s happening is just business. Nothing more, nothing less. Trust me, Dylan. I’m not the kind of girl to place her hand on the stove after I’ve already been burned by it.”
Liar, liar pants on fire.
“I hope so, because if he burns you again…I’m going to cut his dick off and feed it to him.” She frowns. “And there’s a good chance he might not survive the blood loss, which would undoubtedly make Jace very upset with me, so I really hope for everyone’s sake, Cole doesn’t fuck up.”
Laughing, I lean my forehead against hers. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
“When it comes to the people I love? Hell yeah, I am.”
And that’s just one of the reasons I love her so much.
“Hate to break it to you, man, but I think your girlfriend’s gonna dump you for Sawyer,” a voice that sounds a whole lot like Oakley’s declares.
We turn our heads to see three sets of eyeballs peering at us through Dylan’s windshield.
My stomach flips when the piercing green ones lock on me.
“Why is Cole here?” I whisper, turning back to Dylan.
“No idea. Jace only mentioned he was picking up Oakley.” She makes a face. “Then again, it’s Cole’s birthday today too, so—”
“It is not his birthday.”
Her eyes widen. “You know about that?”
“If you two aren’t going to make out, can you at least have the decency to lift your shirts and give us some titty on titty action?” Cole shouts. “After all, it is my birthday.”
Jace smacks the back of his head.
Edging apart, Dylan and I both flip him the bird.
“How was your drive here?” Jace asks as we get out of the car. “Any problems?”
“Nope.” Dylan wraps her arms around him. “It was perfect. Just like you.”
“Nah, perfect is this ass.” As if proving his point, Jace grabs a handful of her derriere. “So are you and Sawyer almost ready to get inked, or you both gonna chicken out on me?”
“I’m definitely not chickening out. Neither is Sawyer.” Breaking their embrace, Dylan looks at me. “Right?”
Despite the anxiety coursing through my system, I nod.
A few months ago, we decided to get matching butterfly tattoos for our upcoming birthdays.
Dylan’s getting hers in memory of Liam, and I’m getting mine in memory of my nanna, who loved butterflies.
However, now that it’s actually happening, I’m starting to have second thoughts.
“Hold up. Little Miss Bible Thumper is getting a tattoo?” Cole mock gasps. “Are you sure God will be okay with you desecrating your body like that?”
I glare at him. “Go to hell, Covington.”
Oakley looks between us. “Damn. Trouble in paradise already?”
I smack a quick hello kiss on his cheek. “Don’t act like you don’t know we’re fake dating.”
Oakley pouts. “Does that mean there won’t be a wedding? Because I heard desperate bridesmaid sex is awesome.”
I point to Dylan and Jace who are walking hand in hand toward the tattoo shop. “You’re barking up the wrong tree, bud. I suggest you ask the real couple to help you out with that.”
Cupping his hand over his mouth, Oakley chases after them. “Yo, when are you two lovebirds getting married?”
Jace turns white as a sheet and Dylan looks horrified.
A laugh slips from my mouth. Oakley’s going to be waiting awhile.
I’m about to catch up to them, but Cole grabs my wrist. “Here’s a thought. How about you stop telling people our private business.”
I have no idea what he’s referring to. “What are you talking about?”
“Stop telling people we’re in a fake relationship, because word will get around.”
“Relax. It’s Oakley.”
“Yeah, and Oakley has a big mouth. He’s also fucking around with Morgan, who is best friends with Casey. It’s only a matter of time before he slips up and tells her.”
For some reason hearing her name out of his mouth sends a surge of jealousy through me.
“Wow, you sure spend a lot of time thinking about your ex.”
He looks at me like I’ve sprouted another head. “What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.” I shake my h
ead, feeling like an idiot for saying anything. “Look, we’re not on school property right now, and I highly doubt Cortland’s in the tattoo shop, so how about we just…I don’t know…not talk to each other for the rest of the day.”
Chapter 30
Cole
Sawyer telling Oakley the truth shouldn’t bother me.
But it does.
Same goes for her not wanting to talk to me.
Hell, if anything, I should be happy she can draw a line in the sand and separate things between us so easily, because most girls can’t.
They get clingy and needy.
Constantly confusing what things are with what they want them to be.
But not Sawyer.
Nope, my Bible Thumper has no problem placing me back in my box.
“Who shit in your Cheerios?” Jace questions.
Dodging his question, I continue watching Sawyer and Dylan talk to one of the tattoo artists in the shop. He’s only a few years older than I am, but unlike me, he’s covered in tattoos and his earlobes—if you can even call them that—are overstretched around some black holes.
But his appearance isn’t what’s bothering me.
It’s the way he’s paying extra special attention to Sawyer.
Jace follows my line of sight. “I told you dating her was a bad idea.”
“We’re not dating.”
“Funny, because last time I checked, that’s what calling someone your girlfriend meant.”
“It’s fak—”
“You ready, man?” some dude calls out behind us.
Jace whips off his hoodie. “Hell yeah.”
I raise a brow. “You’re getting ink today, too—what the fuck is that?”
Jace isn’t new to tattoos given he’s been getting them since he was sixteen, but I can’t help but notice the new one under his ribcage.
Upon closer inspection, I realize it’s the chorus to a Jimmy Eat World song.
Specifically, his girlfriend’s favorite one.
“Jesus fucking Christ. You let her brand you?”
Jace shrugs like it’s no big deal. “She didn’t brand me. I branded me.”
“That’s even worse.”
Needing support from someone else with balls—since my brother no longer has his—I look to Oakley, who’s currently flirting with the girl at the counter and wave him over.
The moment he reaches me, I gesture to Jace’s new ink. “Can you believe this shit?”
Oakley squints. “What is it?”
“Lyrics to Dylan’s favorite song.”
Surprise crosses over his features. “Oh. That’s…interesting.”
“The word you’re looking for is dumb as fuck.”
Jace reclines in an oversized chair. “Are you done yet?”
He should know me better than that. “No.” Raising my hand, I halt the tattoo artist. “Not so fast. I need to make sure my idiot brother isn’t getting another sissy tattoo for his girlfriend.”
“Shut up, Cole,” Dylan grinds out as she settles into a seat. “It was really sweet of him to do.” She makes eyes at my brother. “Not to mention incredibly romantic and sexy.”
I make a gagging sound.
Sawyer plops down in the empty chair next to her. “Don’t mind him, he’s just missing this thing in his chest called a heart.”
She’s not wrong.
Turning back to my brother, I ask, “What are you getting done today?”
“A butterfly,” he deadpans.
Oakley and I exchange a glance…then we both start howling with laughter.
It’s bad enough he has some girly lyrics tattooed on him, but a goddamn butterfly?
I look at him seriously. “Did it hurt when she neutered you?”
That only makes Oakley laugh harder. “Does she keep them in a jar so you can see them every now and then?”
Jace narrows his eyes at us. “Fuck off.”
“Don’t worry, baby,” Dylan says. “Your brother’s just being a hater because he has to pay someone to be his girlfriend.”
Well, shit.
Sawyer asked me to donate ten-grand to her church at the end of all this, but I didn’t think of it as paying her to be my girlfriend.
Is that why she’s able to turn it on and off so easily?
Is it just about the money for her?
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out my donation to her family’s church will benefit her in some way.
What I can’t figure out is why that bothers me so much?
It shouldn’t.
Fuck knows I was ready to use her without a second thought.
Dylan’s lips twist into a scowl. Evidently, she isn’t finished telling me off yet. “Jace isn’t getting the butterfly for me. He’s getting it for Liam.”
Of course, he is.
It’s not enough for his entire chest to be covered with gigantic angel wings and the words, ‘My brother’s keeper.’
He has to keep adding to his permanent Liam shrine.
Making sure everyone knows exactly who his favorite brother was.
Meanwhile I know damn well if I was the one who died instead of Liam, Jace wouldn’t be running out to some tattoo shop to pay homage to my memory.
He’d probably be relieved.
Everyone would.
I can feel Jace’s eyes on me. “Do you want one?”
“Do I want what? A stupid butterfly for the person who ripped what was left of our family apart when he offed himself?” Grinning, I scratch my jaw. “Nah, I’m already reminded of the fucker every time I look in the mirror. Unlike you, I don’t need to make my body a mural hoping it will take away the guilt I feel for fucking his girl every night.”
I regret the words the moment they leave my mouth, but it’s too late.
It’s always too late.
The shop goes silent.
But that’s what I do.
I hurt…so I hurt others.
Especially the people I care about most.
Jace’s jaw hardens. “I meant a regular tattoo, prick.”
“Oh. I see. You were offering to do something nice for me since it’s my birthday.” I glare daggers right back at him. “No thanks. I’m good.”
The anger in his eyes turns to anguish and he looks away.
Mission accomplished.
Dylan springs up in her seat. “Why do you always have to ruin everything—”
“Dylan,” Sawyer whispers. “Drop it.”
Dylan’s mouth falls open. “Are you serious—”
“You should listen to your friend,” I tell Dylan before my eyes shift to Sawyer.
Ignoring me is the smart thing to do.
It’s what everyone does.
“I think I want to get my dick pierced,” Oakley announces.
Safe to say everyone’s attention is now on him.
Dylan blinks. “What?”
Jace eyes him suspiciously. “Why?”
I wince. “Dude, no.”
“Ladies love it,” the tattoo artist setting up shop by Dylan and Sawyer comments. “Trust me.”
There’s no mistaking the flirty smirk he sends Sawyer’s way.
Or the blush creeping up her cheeks.
“Do you think it hurts?” Oak asks me.
“It’s a piece of metal going through your cock,” I remind him. “Of course it fucking hurts.”
Tattoo guy shrugs. “It’s actually not that bad.” He turns to Sawyer and Dylan. “Did you two decide where you want your tattoos yet?”
Dylan and Sawyer exchange a glance and Dylan points to her hip. “We’re gonna get them here.”
“Awesome. Who’s going first?”
Sawyer nods toward Dylan. “Your birthday is two days before mine, so you should go first.”
“Okay.” Dylan tugs down the top of her yoga pants, baring her hip. “Let’s do this.”
Oakley looks at their tattoo artist. “How does sex feel with one?”
“Fucking awesome…especially for
her.” He wipes some antiseptic stuff on Dylan’s skin. “But I can only speak on behalf of the apadravya, not the Prince Albert.”
Oakley ponders this for a moment. “What’s the difference?”
“A PA goes through your pee hole and out the side. Apadravya goes vertical through your tip.”
I inwardly shudder. Fuck that shit.
“How long does it take to…you know, be back in business?”
Mouth agape, I stare at him. “You’re not actually considering this, are you?”
Oakley’s impulsive as hell, but this has to take the cake.
The guy laughs. “You should be able to fuck with a condom on in about four to six weeks.”
“Damn,” Oakley says. “That’s a long time.”
Tell me about it.
“So, which one of you does the piercings around here?”
Tattoo dude points to the girl at the counter. The same one Oakley was flirting with before.
Winking, she saunters toward a room in the back. “Ready when you are, soldier.”
Oh, hell. Trying to talk him out of it now is futile.
Oakley rubs his hands together, his gaze ping-ponging between Jace and I. “All right. Which one of you are coming with me?”
Jace motions to the tattoo machine that’s currently inking his skin. “I’m kind of busy.”
Oakley mock-punches my arm. “You’re on deck.”
The fuck I am. “I’m not watching someone put a hole through your wang.”
His face falls. “Come on, man. I need someone to hold my hand in case it hurts. I thought we were brothers from another mother?”
We are, but there are some things a man should never ever witness another man do. This is at the top of the list.
“I’ll do it.” Sawyer gets up from her seat. “Since Dylan’s taking her tattoo like a champ and doesn’t need me, I can go in there with you…if you want.”
“Thank you,” Oakley says. “Unlike Cole, you’re a true friend. However, I should probably warn you not to freak out.”
Sawyer and Dylan exchange a glance. “Why would I freak out?”
He smirks. “Let’s just say I’m blessed in that department, so you—”
“I’ll do it,” I interject.
The thought of Oakley dropping trou and whipping out his dick in front of Sawyer doesn’t sit well with me.